PC image-based analysis system for particle characterization of deinked pulps

A low cost PC image-based particle analysis system is being developed for particle characterization of deinked pulps at the University of Utah. Initial R&D efforts of such an image analysis system were made for on-line particle characterization in the mineral processing field but now it has been found to be applicable for the analysis of deinked pulps in the wastepaper recycling industry. Both the size and shape of ink particles in hand sheets and paper pulps for all three typical wastepaper resources (newsprint, xerographic, and magazine) can easily be determined by the image analysis system. Preliminary results indicate that the system is quite successful for the evaluation of products obtained from deinking air-sparged hydrocyclone (ASH) flotation tests. Quantitative analysis can give both the size and shape of ink particles for such products. In addition, the hardware and software used to implement this image analysis system are discussed. Finally, on-line instrumentation of such a system for the direct measurement of wastepaper pulp is considered as part of future research activities.